Using the JVC Mini DV Camera

Using the JVC Mini DV CameraStudents, Faculty and StaffSetting Up the Camera1. Check out a JVC Mini digital videocamerafrom the TIC at Forest Grove or the HPCLibrary.2. Purchase a Mini DV tape.3. To open the tape bay, push the open/ejectbutton in the direction of the arrow whilesimultaneously pulling that part of the cameraaway from the main body of the camera.5. To close, push the outer door (the one withthe open/eject button on it) towards the bodyof the camera, wait for the interior mechanismto go down, then close it the rest of the way.6. Open the viewing window.7. Make sure that the function switch is in thePlay position.8. On the side of the camera, in the areaaccessible now that you have pulled out theviewing window, press the “menu/batt.data”button. A menu should appear on the display.4. When the interior mechanism pops up andopens, enter the mini DV tape.9. Use the circular button to navigate through themenu. Up and down moves you through theavailable options. The center button choosesthe current option..

Using the Camera1. Move the function switch to A (for automatic).10. Choose the Video sub-menu, go down to RecMode. The LP mode will give you the mostrecording time (45 minutes on a normal miniDV tape).11. Return from the Video sub-menu and choosethe System sub-menu. Make sure that DemoMode is Off. If it’s on, the camera may showrandom special effects during capture.12. Press the “menu/batt.data” button again toexit the menu.13. To make sure you are at the beginning of thetape, press the left side of the circular buttonfor rewind.14. It is suggested that, instead of relying onbattery power, you plug in the camera. An ACadapter is included with the camera and plugsin to the jack under the rubber flap on the toprightof the front of the camera as you look atthe viewfinder.2. Make sure that the lens cap has been removed.3. You should now see live video in the viewingwindow. The word “pause” should appear toindicate that you are not currently recording.4. To begin recording, press the button in thecenter of the function switch. The word RECshould appear in the viewing window toindicate that you are currently recording.5. To pause recording, hit the same button.When you are done recording, move the functionswitch to the off positionTransferring Video From the CameraThere are three ways to transfer video from the camerato your computer.Using the Video Campure Device1. Lift the rubber flap covering the DC powerjack.

2. Get the 3.5 mm to RCA adapter (included inthe camera bag), plug the 3.5 mm jack into thejack directly above the power.3. Plug the RCA (red, yellow, white) ends of theadapter into the corresponding jacks on thevideo capture device.Using Firewire and Windows Movie Maker (XPand Vista users)This option is only available if you have a firewire jackon your computer. Your computer may or may nothave a firewire jack, depending on the model. Tocheck to see if your computer has firewire, take thegrey and black cables from the camera bag and checkto see if there is a jack on your computer in which theywill fit. If you do have firewire, use the following stepsto capture the video as a file on your computer:1. Make sure the function switch is in the Playposition.2. Plug one end of the firewire cable into yourcomputer. If you have a small-type firewirejack, use the black cable. If you have a largetypefirewire jack use the grey cable.4. Move the function switch to the Play position.5. Press the rewind button (left on large circularbutton on the left side of the camera) torewind the tape.3. Plug the other end of the cable into thefirewire jack on the camera. This is foundunder the rubber flap directly to the right ofthe viewfinder eyepiece.6. Follow the instructions on the “Using theVideo Capture Device” TIP Sheet. When thatTIP Sheet instructs you to “Start the videoplaying” press the play button (up on thecircular button on the left side of the camera).

4. You should see notifications that windows hasfound and is loading drivers for a new device.Next, a screen should come up asking whataction you want to take. Choose CaptureVideo Using Windows Movie Maker and clickOK.5. Windows Movie Maker should load. Whenprompted, give the video a name. By default itwill want to save the video in a “My Videos”subfolder under your my Documents folder.If you want to save elsewhere, change thisnow.8. Click Next.9. If you want to capture all the video on thetape, choose “Capture the entire tapeautomatically.” Otherwise, choose “Captureparts of the tape manually.”6. Click Next.7. Here you will be asked to select the videoformat. If this is a long video (e.g. a classlecture) that you want to put up on iTunes U,choose “Video for broadband (512 Kbps)”from the pull down menu.10. Click Next.11. Remove the check from the check-box next to“Create clips when wizard finishes.”12. If you have chosen “Capture the entire tapeautomatically,” the system will automaticallyrewind the tape, start the tape playing and stopthe recording when the video ends. You canend the recording early by clicking “Stopcapture.”

13. If you’ve chosen to “Capture parts of the tapemanually,” follow the instructions below:a. Use the navigation buttons on thescreen to rewind (the two trianglespointing left) to the beginning of thetape, and then play (the one trianglepointing right).b. When you see the video starting in thepreview screen, click the Start Capturebutton. This will begin capturing thevideo.c. When you come to a part which youdo not wish to capture, click the StopCapture button.d. When you are finished recordingaltogether, click Finish.14. Close Windows Movie Maker.The file is now on your hard drive. See the TIP Sheet:“How To Convert Media Files to iTunes-FriendlyFormats” for information on changing this file to aformat that can be uploaded to iTunes U.Using Firewire and iMovie (Mac users)If you have a Mac, the easiest way to capture videofrom the digital videocamera is to use the iMovieapplication, which comes with iLife on most new Macs.1. Make sure the function switch is in the Playposition.2. Plug one end of the firewire cable into yourcomputer. If you have a small-type firewirejack, use the black cable. If you have a largetypefirewire jack use the grey cable.3. Plug the other end of the cable into thefirewire jack on the camera. This is foundunder the rubber flap directly to the right ofthe viewfinder eyepiece.4. Start iMovie.5. A video capture screen should appear.6. Click the Play button.7. Click the Import button.8. Give the event a name.9. When you are finished recording, click theStop button.10. Click Done.11. Your clip will be saved as a .dv movie in afolder with the same name you gave to theevent.12. This clip will show up in iMovie. You can addit to a new project, then go to Share -> ExportUsing Quicktime -> Movie to iPod to save itin an iTunes-friendly format.last updated 3/24/2009